Introverts are generally considered “quiet” people who get more energy from being alone than socializing with large groups.
These traits can keep them from getting ahead in a job market that often seems to favor extroverts who promote themselves.
Whether you’re an introvert trying to stop living paycheck to paycheck or a hiring manager looking for an ideal candidate for a job, keep reading.
Here are 16 skills that showcase precisely why being an introvert in an extroverted world is an incredible asset in the workplace.
Join AARP and double your number of interviews within 60 days
Finding a new job is difficult. But join AARP today, and you’ll get access to skill-building courses, a free resume review, and AARP’s exclusive job board to help you stand out in the competitive job market.
How to become a member today:
- Go here, select your free gift, and click “Join Today.”
- Create your account by answering a few simple questions.
- Start using AARP’s job search tools!
An AARP membership unlocks resources that could help you land the perfect role. Plus, you’ll get access to tools like The AARP Resume Advisor to supercharge your resume, cover letter, and even your LinkedIn profile.
AARP claims they can help double your number of interviews within 60 days, or they'll rewrite your resume for free.
Important: Start your membership by creating an account here and filling in all of the information (do not skip this step!). Doing so will allow you to take up to 25% off your AARP membership, making it just $12 per year with auto-renewal.
Self-directed and independent
/images/2023/08/01/attractive_focused_young_woman_takes_notes.jpg)
Knowing how to collaborate with a group is an essential aspect of most jobs, but so is taking the time to perform independent work that benefits the team as a whole.
Introverts often excel at the heads-down, individually directed work that ensures a project can succeed based on the strength of its parts.
Empathetic
/images/2023/08/01/businessman_comforting_colleague_in_office_FMmGJvA.jpg)
Plenty of extroverts and ambiverts are deeply empathetic, but introverts tend to observe and hang back by nature, which can give them extra insights into a person’s worries, habits, likes, and dislikes.
Their attention to detail coupled with their quieter, more introspective personalities can help them empathize with other team members, forge strong team relationships, and curate a compassionate company culture.
Less distracted by socializing
/images/2023/08/01/busy_employees_working_on_computers_whhdzE6.jpg)
For many introverts, there’s nothing more painful than small talk. Most would rather maximize their solo work time than waste the day on unhelpful work gossip — which means more work gets done and the most toxic aspects of workplace chatter are avoided.
Earn money online by taking surveys
$40,000 might sound crazy … but with a company called Survey Junkie, it’s possible to get your share of it every day by taking their simple surveys.
While it might sound strange, these “market research” surveys are a known way to make extra cash online. Of course, they won’t make you rich … but if you have some extra free time, the money you earn could be enough to cover gas, groceries, coffee, and more!
Follow these simple steps to get your share of $40,000:
- Sign up for an account with Survey Junkie here
- Take surveys
- Repeat daily and get paid!
Sign up here and share your opinion on these companies with simple surveys. Survey Junkie has paid out over $25 million to date.
P.S.: You can cash out with as little as $5 through PayPal or bank transfer, or transfer to gift cards from a number of stores.
Get your share of $40,000 daily by signing up here
Insightful
/images/2023/08/01/team_discussion_or_sharing_idea_at_office_sz1m1Er.jpg)
Brainstorming sessions and other work meetings are crucial places for collaboration. Still, they can quickly descend into inefficient time wasters when too many half-formed opinions get tossed out at once.
Enter the introvert, who only tends to speak up once they’ve mulled over an idea or if they feel strongly about a perspective.
As a result, their insights are often more concise and thought-out, which speeds meetings along and can help teams get to the heart of an issue faster.
Internally motivated
/images/2023/08/01/woman_with_computer_working_on_online_email_Z95soBO.jpg)
Most people enjoy being recognized for their efforts, and introverts are no exception. However, introverts are often internally motivated, not externally motivated.
They push themselves to do their best without relying on constant external validation from co-workers and managers.
Of course, this trait means managers might need to pay extra attention to their introverted direct reports to ensure they’re getting the recognition they deserve.
At the same time, it also means managers don’t need to worry about an introvert running out of steam if they don’t receive a steady diet of praise.
Work with little oversight
/images/2023/08/01/man_and_programmer_code_on_computer_screen_with_cybersecurity_hologram_8IbRu1k.jpg)
Just as they don’t need too much attention and praise to excel at work, self-driven introverts also tend to perform well without much micromanaging.
Thanks to their keen attention to detail and intense internal drive to succeed, introverts can produce exceptional work without requiring constant coaching and check-ins from their managers.
Excellent collaborators
/images/2023/08/01/professionals_using_a_laptop_together_flAZV1a.jpg)
Since they don’t seek out social contact in the same way as extroverts, introverts can be unfairly labeled as not being team players.
However, introverts don’t tend to speak without thinking, aren’t driven by a need for external validation, and are attuned to others’ feelings. That makes them ideal partners in any collaborative workplace effort.
Take time to find real solutions
/images/2023/08/01/senior_male_in_glasses_work_on_laptop_gpj5rwf.jpg)
Rather than rushing to find quick-fix solutions to complex problems, introverts prefer to fully contemplate a thorny issue until they land on a clear, well-thought-out answer.
While this means introverts might not be as quick to think on their feet, it makes them invaluable when tackling long-term, systemic issues.
Innovative
/images/2023/08/01/group_of_young_creative_people_in_smart_casual_wear_discussing_busines_1ImazmS.jpg)
Introverts tend to spend much more time inside their heads instead of constantly engaging with others.
By standing a bit apart from the crowd, introverts can come up with out-of-the-box, creative solutions that push the boundaries of traditional thought.
Get out of $10,000 or more in debt
Credit card debt is suffocating. It constantly weighs on your mind and controls every choice you make. You can end up emotionally and even physically drained from it. And even though you make regular payments, it feels like you can never make any progress because of the interest.
National Debt Relief is designed specifically to help you get out of credit card debt faster, without having to make drastic life changes. With National Debt Relief, you could pay off your credit card debt (with potentially way less interest) in one simple monthly payment.
How to get National Debt Relief to pay off your debt: Sign up for a free debt assessment here. (Do not skip this step!) By signing up for a free assessment, National Debt Relief can immediately assist you in paying off your debt, but only if you schedule the assessment.
Active listeners
/images/2023/08/01/group_of_happy_men_and_women_sitting_in_row_on_chairs_11eWoCe.jpg)
While introverts shy away from small talk, they’re often excellent listeners regarding crucial conversations. They listen and observe more than they talk, so they don’t redirect conversations to make them entirely about themselves.
Instead, they can provide valuable insights and compassionate empathy that ensures the person talking feels understood and truly heard.
Compassionate people managers
/images/2023/07/16/smiling_manager_shaking_hands.jpg)
As fantastic listeners and helpful collaborators, introverts can be excellent people managers who draw out the best in their direct reports.
In many work situations, they may be better equipped than extroverts to notice and smooth over tensions between teams or employees.
Plus, introverts can find unique and comprehensive solutions to long-standing team issues by listening, paying attention to details, and thinking creatively.
Clear communicators
/images/2023/08/01/multinational_team_discuss_marketing_strategy_DpmtBvR.jpg)
Generally speaking, introverts communicate clearly, compassionately, and with a good deal of attention to the other person — especially when they have the time to think through a response in writing.
While not all introverts are great at speaking off the cuff, they often come across as very polite and straightforward when given time to think through and write down what they want to say.
Focus on real issues, not office gossip
/images/2023/08/01/thinking_of_marketing_strategy_1Jskjed.jpg)
Introverts don’t like to waste time at work; idle office gossip generally counts as a massive (and judgmental) waste of time.
Perhaps more important, though, introverts don’t like to make snap decisions. They’d rather think through complex issues on their own time and consider diverse perspectives.
This instinct means they avoid knee-jerk reactions that can heighten office tensions and play into office politics.
Offer invaluable team insights
/images/2023/08/01/young_people_work_in_modern_office_7iNL505.jpg)
While steering clear of office politics themselves, introverts’ intense attention to detail can help them pick up on underlying tensions that higher-ups might not notice.
Based on their empathetic observations, introverts can offer insightful long-term solutions that help resolve dysfunctions without blaming one party over another.
Work well away from the office
/images/2023/08/01/businessman_sitting_alone_in_his_home_office_TGewpxc.jpg)
In a world where remote work has become common, it makes sense for companies to invest in employees who can thrive even when they aren’t in a traditional office environment. Remote companies should consider hiring more introverts.
Introverts do best when they can work independently without the distractions of an open floor plan. As long as they have the tools to do their jobs from home, introverts can maintain high productivity no matter how far from the office they need to work.
Bottom line
/images/2023/08/01/boss_explaining_project_strategy_to_executive_manager_xetVSog.jpg)
As a hiring manager, it’s worth spending a bit more time recruiting introverts for specific roles, especially roles requiring strict attention to detail, creative problem-solving skills, and compassion.
And if you’re an introvert looking for ways to make extra money, don’t give up on interviews, even if you keep getting turned down by hiring committees. You have a great set of strengths that will benefit any employer who is insightful enough to make you an offer.
National Debt Relief Benefits
- No upfront fees
- One-on-one evaluation with a debt counseling expert
- For people with $7,500 in unsecured debts and up
Author Details